DODGERS READY FOR PRESSURE.

Byline: Tony Jackson  Staff Writer

ST. LOUIS - The Dodgers might be decided underdogs in the National League Division Series with St. Louis, which begins at 10:09 PDT this morning, and they might be relative postseason newcomers against a vaunted Cardinals team that is in the playoffs for the fourth time in the past five years. But there is one thing in their favor. The Dodgers aren't untested.

The Cardinals clinched the championship of the NL Central two weeks ago. The Dodgers clinched the championship of the NL West only three days ago, after a treacherous September, most of which the team spent teetering on, but never quite falling off, the edge of disaster.

So while it is technically accurate to say this team hasn't been to the playoffs since 1996, it is a little misleading.

``We have played every game the last two weeks like it was the most important game of our careers,'' Dodgers third baseman Adrian Beltre said. ``Those games were all so close. I would guess that's what the playoffs feel like.''

The Dodgers will send left-hander Odalis Perez to the mound today against Cardinals right-hander Woody Williams. In the postseason, Perez has made three appearances totaling one inning with Atlanta. Williams has two career starts, both with the Cardinals, going 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA.

The rest of the Dodgers roster had not been decided as of Monday night. All that was known was that Los Angeles would carry only 10 pitchers, a luxury the Dodgers could afford because, with two off-days in the series' first four days, they need only a three-man rotation of Perez, Jeff Weaver and Jose Lima.

That probably means the bullpen will consist of right-handers Eric Gagne, Yhency Brazoban, Giovanni Carrara, Elmer Dessens, Duaner Sanchez and lefties Wilson Alvarez and Mike Venafro. Hideo Nomo, who was demoted to the bullpen two weeks ago and hasn't pitched since, clearly is one of the odd men out. Kazuhisa Ishii also figures to get squeezed out because the Dodgers don't need a fourth starter, a role that will be his if the club makes it to the NL Championship Series.

With only 10 pitchers, the Dodgers probably carry a third catcher, with September call-up Tom Wilson joining Brent Mayne and David Ross. That would allow Tracy to use one of the three in a pinch-hitting role and still have a backup catcher on the bench.

``That's one thing we're weighing as a possible option,'' Tracy said. ``Right now, it's safe to say it would be somewhat of a surprise (to carry only two).''

Even with three catchers, the Dodgers still could keep their usual roster of eight infielders - with Jose Hernandez, Robin Ventura, Olmedo Saenz and Hee-Seop Choi backing up starters Shawn Green, Alex Cora, Adrian Beltre and Cesar Izturis - and four outfielders - starters Jayson Werth, Steve Finley and Milton Bradley and backup Jason Grabowski.

All of which means infielder Antonio Perez, another September callup, also figures to be pushed out of the picture.

Tracy said he would continue to use Mayne and Ross on an equal basis and that Wilson won't start any games. With the Cardinals going with an all-right-handed rotation, the right-handed-hitting Hernandez figures to be relegated to a reserve and pinch-hitting role after platooning all season with Cora.

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Photo:

Odalis Perez didn't face the Cardinals during the regular season but gets the ball in Game 1.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer